I was obsessed with Salman Khan, says Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor was all laughter and smiles at the trailer launch of her upcoming movie Khoobsurat. Check out her many happy moods!

With a medical tape on her left arm, looks like Sonam Kapoor attended this event post a blood donation. (HT Photo)

Here she is sporting the traditional, Rajasthani turban. (IANS)

Sonam Kapoor with Fawad Khan. (IANS Photo)

Sonam Kapoor with sister and producer Rhea Kapoor. (IANS Photo)

Sonam Kapoor may be a star in her own right now, but she doesn’t shy away from revealing that, as a kid, she was particularly star-struck by another actor. With her usual candour, she says that meeting him for the first time “one of the highlights of [her] life".

In an upcoming film, you will be playing the lead opposite Salman Khan. Are you looking forward to it?In my interviews, I’ve always spoken about him like a fan; and now I get to work with him. I just hope that he hasn’t read any of them [the interviews]… He’s too busy; he’s a huge star, so why would he read my interviews? I don’t think he even knows that I’m a big fan of his. When I was younger, I was obsessed with him. My parents never allowed me on a film set. But this one time I got to know that dad (Anil Kapoor) and Salman are working together, so I pleaded with him to take me on the set. I remember how he introduced me to Salman, saying ‘She’s a big fan of yours. Why don’t you speak to her for some time?’ We spent around 45 minutes together, but he [Salman] doesn’t remember any of that. It was one of the highlights of my life.

Your next is a remake of the 1980 Rekha-starrer. Has she seen it yet?No, she hasn’t... But we have to show it to her; the film is a tribute to her.

Anil Kapoor is playing a father to Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra (in Zoya Akhtar’s next). When are we going to see you both act together?He refuses to be my father [on screen]… I told him, ‘You’re playing a father to others, but not to me.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, it’s better that way.’ But honestly, right now, even I don’t want to work with dad; I want to find my own path and make my own image. I don’t want to ‘use’ my dad.

How did your production house sign Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who’s new to Bollywood, to star opposite you in the remake?We auditioned a lot of actors for the film (her next) and thought he would be right for the role. He’s big in India as well. I don’t know anyone who watches TV and doesn’t know Fawad. In fact, he has a bigger fan following than me. We were shooting for a TV show recently, and there were girls taking pictures of his van even when he hadn’t stepped out. And it [the decision to cast him] has got nothing to do with being an Indian or a Pakistani; an artiste is an artiste.

Your brother Harshvardhan will soon make his debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s next. Have you seen him act?No, I just tell him to work hard. Harsh suited the role that Rakeysh had in mind. Now, a lot of my family members are part of the industry… Arjun (Kapoor), Mohit (Marwah). I’m excited that I have three brothers who are lead actors and doing some of the best films in the business.

Will your production house ever produce movies that won’t feature anyone from your family?Yes, we are already making one such film. It has seven newcomers. No Sonam, no Arjun, no Harsh… It’s a family tradition to make films. Production is in our blood.